'Charles McCawley' | |
[[Image:150px|center|200px|border]]8th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1875-1891) | |
Born: | January 29, 1827(1827-01-29) |
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Place of Birth: | {{{place of birth}}} |
Died: | October 13, 1891 (aged 64) |
Place of Death: | {{{place of death}}} |
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Birth Name: | {{{birth name}}} |
Allegiance: | United States of America Union |
Participation(s): | {{{participations}}} |
Branch: | United States Marine Corps |
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Rank: | 30px Colonel |
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Commands: | Commandant of the Marine Corps |
Battles: | Mexican-American War Battle of Chapultepec Civil War Fort Wagner |
Awards: | |
Relations: | Charles L. McCawley son |
Other work: | {{{otherwork}}} |
Charles Grymes McCawley (January 29, 1827 – October 13, 1891) was the eighth Commandant of the Marine Corps and served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.
Biography
Born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, McCawley was appointed a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on March 3, 1847. He took part in the Battle of Chapultepec and the capture of Mexico City during the Mexican-American War. (It is this battle which is commemorated in the Marine Hymn's words, "From the Halls of Montezuma....")
He was brevetted first lieutenant September 13, 1847, for gallantry in those actions. In the Civil War, he aided in the capture of Port Royal, South Carolina, November 7, 1861 and led a detachment of 200 Marines to reoccupy the Norfolk Navy Yard, May 1862. He subsequently commanded Marine detachments during operations in Charleston Harbor against Forts Wagner, Gregg, and Sumter. For gallant and meritorious conduct during the boat attack on Fort Sumter, September 8, 1863, he was brevetted major.
In 1876, he was appointed colonel commandant, the highest post in the Marine Corps, and served in that position until he retired in 1891. In 1883, Colonel McCawley chose Semper Fidelis, Latin for 'Always Faithful', as the official Marine Corps motto. Colonel McCawley died at Philadelphia, October 13, 1891.
Relations
Charles G McCawleys son Charles L. McCawley also received a commission in the Marine Corps and went on to receive the Marine Corps Brevet Medal and to modify the enlisted Marines sword.
Namesakes
Two ships in the United States Navy have been named USS McCawley in his honor.
See also
References
- This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
- Charles Grymes McCawley at Find a Grave Retrieved on 2009-08-07
- USMC History & Museums Division biography
Template:Start box |- ! colspan="3" style="background: #CF9C65;" | Military offices
|- style="text-align: center;"
|- style="text-align:center;"
|width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1"|Preceded by
BGen Jacob Zeilin
|width="40%" style="text-align: center;" rowspan="1"|Commandant of the United States Marine Corps
1876–1891
|width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1"| Succeeded by
MajGen Charles Heywood
|-
|}
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Persondata | |
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NAME | Maccawley, Charles Grymes |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
SHORT DESCRIPTION | 8th Commandant of the Marine Corps |
DATE OF BIRTH | January 29, 1827 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
DATE OF DEATH | October 13, 1891 |
PLACE OF DEATH | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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